Best for Us (GU #3)

forty

But the stubborn part of me clearly won't do that. Lalo pa't hindi naman ako nag promise na gagawin ko kung ano ang sinasabi niya. I just felt like that maybe if she's still feeling that way, I can be of help to her. Lalo pa't ako ang kasa-kasama niya kapag nagkakabisado siya ng lines.

In the end, I didn't made my presence known to Vanessa. Siguro'y pagkatapos na lang ng audition saka ko sasabihin sa kanyang nanood ako.

It didn't take long and the audition started. I watched as different students went up to the stage one by one. Though I knew a little about singing, some were really undeniably good. Such a shame hindi pa sinasabi ng mga panel kung pasok yung auditionee o hindi pagkatapos ng performance.

Then it was Olivia's turn and I was surprised that she managed to spot me, even smiled at my direction before starting her performance. And in all fairness, she was good. It was evident from the reation of the panel when she was done.

Naghintay pa ako at hindi nga nagtagal nang makita kong si Vanessa na ang naglakad papunta sa gitna ng stage. The smile automatically found its way to my lips and in my head, I was already cheering for her.

Pero unti-unti iyong nawala nang mag-angat ng tingin si Vanessa at napunta iyon sa panel. There's something wrong. And even from here I could see how nervous she was.

"You can start now," one of the panel told her but she just remained standing.

Napabuntong hininga ako. Kailangang may gawin ako.

Tumayo ako't nagpa-excuse doon sa mga katabi hanggang sa makarating sa aisle saka doon ako sa likuran pumwesto, katapat ng mismong pwesto ni Vanessa sa stage.

I let out a deep breath before raising both of my hands, waving at her direction. And thank God, it caught her attention. Halatang nasorpresa pa siya na makitang naroon ako. But I smiled at her and urged her to continue. And I was aware of the some pair of eyes that were on me now.

Ngunit hindi ko pinansin ang mga iyon at patuloy na tiningnan lang si Vanessa. Encouraging her.

"Ms. Arquilla?" tawag muli nung nasa panel. "We're waiting."

I smiled even wider at Vanessa, nodding at her to go on. Tiningnan niya pa akong huling beses bago humarap doon sa panel, inangat na iyong microphone na hawak. Then she moved her gaze back at me as she started to sing. And when her voice filled the whole theater, it felt like she's singing just for me and it was just the two of us in this hall.

Or, maybe she really is. Dahil ang pinili niyang kantahin ay iyong kantang pinatugtog ko sa rooftop nung unang beses kaming sumayaw.

I smiled at her direction. Na siya namang ibinalik niya. And we were like that through the entire song.

Gaya ng iba, pagkatapos ng kanta ay pinabasa rin ng script si Vanessa na maayos niya ring nagawa. And not being biased, but my girl did well.

My girl...hindi pa, Tyler.

Napailing na lang ako sa sarili at nang makitang maayos nang nakabalik si Vanessa sa backstage ay lumabas na rin ako ng hall. Nakita ko naman na ang pakay ko. Wala nang rason para mag-stay pa ako.

Walking to the parking lot, I sent a series of messages to Vanessa.

Me: You did so well. I'm so proud of you. You slayed those lines. Good thing, I helped you with it, huh?

Me: PS. You picked the right song. ;)

Me: PPS. Sa parking lot lang ako. Will wait for you. Lets celebrate your successful audition later. Ice cream?

Ngumiti pa ako nang pasadahang muli ang mga pinadalang texts bago isusuksok na dapat sa bulsa ang cellphone nang bigla itong mag vibrate.

And I eagerly read the replies from Vanessa.

Vanessa: Really? Baka sinasabi mol ang yan. But I feel relieved that it's over. I can finally breathe properly. Nakakahiya yung kamuntik na kong magnervous breakdown kanina. :( That's why thank you for what you did. That's why ako na yung may treat ng ice cream to make it quits. Just gonna wait for Ren to finish tapos sunod na ako.

Vanessa: PS. The Few Things is sooo good. Fell in love with it the first time I heard it.

Napangiti ako roon saka tahimik na binulong, "Mabuti pa yung kanta."

I sighed then shook my head. Don't worry, Tyler. She'll get there with you, too. In time.

*

Vanessa: Where are you right now?

I lifted my brow at her message but typed back a reply.

Me: Dito sa unit. Why? Are your class done already? Do you need me to fetch you?

The first part was exactly the same thing I told her hours ago nang malaman kong wala kaming professor kaya't nauna na akong umuwi. Saka, nagsabi rin ako na pwede akong maghintay hanggang matapos ang klase niya para sabay kaming umuwi pero pinilit niya na akong mauna.

So, why was she asking me that now suddenly?

Hindi nagtagat at muling tumunog ang cellphone ko. A reply from her.

Vanessa: No, you don't have to. Saka malapit na rin ako. Just need to tell you something important.

Mas lalo pang kumunot ang noo ko sa sagot niya. Sobrang curious ako kung saan yun patungkol pero pinili ko na lang na wag magtanong. Instead, I told her that I will wait for her here and that she take care.

At ginugol ko ang sarili sa loob ng kwarto na malalim ang iniisip.

Nang tumunog ang doorbell ilang minuto pagkatapos ay agad na akong tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa sofa, malaks na naglakad papunta sa pinto at binuksan iyon.

Vanessa's face welcomed me. Well, her kind of worried face. With that frown on her lips.

And how I badly wanted to kiss that frown away.

Napailing ako't tahimik na kinastigo ang sarili. Ano na naman ba itong naiisip ko?

"Hey," ngumiti na ako sa kanya. "Why that face? May nangyari ba?"

Walang nagbago sa ekspresyon ni Vanessa. Wala rin siyang sinagot sa mga tanong ko. Sa halip, sinabi niya, "Pwede ba akong pumasok sa loob?"

Agad naman akong tumango. "Sure."

Saka ako gumilid, binigyan siya ng daan para makapasok sa loob. Pumasok naman siya at doon sa sala dumiretso. Nilapat ko na ang pinto, ibinalik ang lock at sumunod na sa kinaroonan ni Vanessa.

"What's wrong?" muli kong tanong nang makalapit sa pwesto niya.

Inangat naman ni Vanessa ang tingin sa akin, ang bibig ay bumuka, parang may nais sabihin. Ngunit wala namang anumang salita ang lumabas mula doon.

"It's okay," I reassured her kahit hindi ko pa alam kung para saan. "You can tell it to me wherever you like. No pressure."

She let out a deep sigh. Saglit napapikit bago muling tinapatan na naman ang tingin ko. "Can you do a favor for me?"

Tumango ako. "Oo naman," aking sagot. "Kahit ano pa yan."

Vanessa heavily breathed again. And with eyes now that were determined, she said, "Kiss me."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko, hindi makapaniwala sa narinig. Then it narrowed at her. Pinagtitripan niya ba ako ngayon? Anong klaseng joke 'to? Pero nanatiling seryoso ang mukha niya, walang bakas ng pagbibiro.

So I asked the only word I could find for now. "What?"

I was expecting her now to take it back. Sabihin niyang biro lang ang naunang sinabi. But still wearing the same expression, shetold me, "I said kiss me. And make it at least ten times."